Spanish state-owned company Enresa, responsible for the management of radioactive waste, has launched a tender for engineering services for the dismantling of the Almaraz nuclear power plant, located in the province of Cáceres.
According to the Spanish news agency EFE, the Public Procurement Platform on Tuesday published a preliminary announcement of this competition, which has a base budget of 28 million euros and a deadline of five years.
The object of the contract is the provision of engineering services for the dismantling of the Almaras nuclear power plant, located in the province of Caceres, for the purpose of carrying out studies and engineering for design, specifications and detailed designs, as well as the preparation of documentation. for authorization of the same.
According to the program for the operation and dismantling of nuclear installations in Spain, included in the VII General Plan for Radioactive Waste Management, the shutdown dates for Almaras power units I and II are scheduled for November 2027 and October 2028, respectively.
According to EFE news, from this date a three-year period will be open to transfer ownership of the plant, which is currently in the hands of Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgy, to Enresa to resolve dismantling issues, this period lasts for the next 10 years, that is, between 2030 and 2041 years.
However, Almaraz NPP is considering two possible scenarios: the cessation of operation of its two power units (2027-2028), as defined in the calendar, and the possibility of extending the deadline, which must be reported in the first quarter of 2025. to avoid organizational failures and absences.
If the Spanish government and the three owner companies report a possible expansion beyond the first quarter of 2025, Almaraz will have to temporarily cease operations in 2027-2028 to reorganize its planning.
Almaraz NPP has established an asset transfer department to address the start of a possible decommissioning process and the start of operation of a second individual temporary storage facility (ATI) from 2026 to be able to accommodate all fuel cells currently located in the power unit. cooling pools.
The Almaraz plant achieved gross production of 17,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2023, the third best historical value since it began commercial operation in 1983, and its reliability and operational stability record places it in the top emitting category of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).
The Almaraz plant is located next to the Tagus River and borders the Portuguese districts of Castelo Branco and Portalegre, with Vila Velha de Rodan being the first Portuguese settlement bordered by the Tagus River after the river entered Portugal.
In operation since 1981 (commercial operation since 1983), the station is located in an earthquake-prone zone just 110 kilometers in a straight line from the border with Portugal.
The Spanish government renewed the Almaraz Group I and II exploration license in July 2020, extending it until November 1, 2027 and October 31, 2028, respectively.
The owners of the Almaraz plant are Iberdrola (53%), Endesa (36%) and Naturgy (11%).